Scope of the inquiry

The CSSF is a pool of money worth more than £1 billion pounds per year for tackling conflict and instability overseas. It was launched on 1 April 2015, replacing the Conflict (Prevention) Pool and is overseen by the National Security Council (NSC). The 2015 National Security Strategy states that the CSSF is part of an ‘even more ambitious approach’ to tackling conflict and building stability overseas, especially in fragile states and regions. The CSSF supports delivery of the UK’s Building Stability Overseas Strategy (BSOS) and the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.

Written submissions

The Committee welcomes written submissions on this subject. The Committee is particularly interested in receiving submissions which address:

The extent to which the CSSF contributes to national security

How CSSF expenditure by Departments is monitored, evaluated, and scrutinised

Whether reporting and transparency arrangements are consistent across Departments

How the National Security Council fulfils its oversight function in relation to the CSSF

How the CSSF differs from its predecessor fund, the Conflict Pool;

On what basis the CSSF is allocated to Departments, individual projects and programmes

How CSSF projects are managed, prioritised and evaluated;

How departmental priorities are balanced against national security imperatives in the allocation of the CSSF

How the CSSF is subject to strategic direction to achieve cross-government goals

Deadline for submissions

Written submissions are invited and should be received by the Committee no later than 15 September 2016.